Sister of the late President John Evans Atta Mills, Mercy Araba Ahema Quarshie, has vehemently criticized Koku Anyidoho, the dismissed deputy general secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), for his actions related to the former president’s grave.
Speaking at the 12th-anniversary memorial service, Madam Quarshie expressed her strong disapproval of Mr. Anyidoho’s unauthorized tampering with Prof. Atta Mills’ grave without the family’s consent.
“I want to make it clear to everyone that Koku Anyidoho has stepped on the wrong foot by tampering with our brother’s grave without our knowledge,” Quarshie declared on Wednesday.
“That is unacceptable, and now we are going to deal with him because it is a taboo in our family to do that.”
Madam Quarshie emphasized the need for consulting the family before making any decisions concerning the late president’s final resting place.
“Whatever you want to do, you have to consult the family, and we have to give you our approval. But because you have the money, you go and do anything that you want,” she said.
Her statement came after chaos erupted at the Asomdwee Park on Monday, July 24, when Mr. Anyidoho exceeded his scheduled time, causing delays for the second memorial service planned by Atta Mills’ relatives and members of the NDC.
Previously, the family accused Mr. Anyidoho of bringing individuals to pose as family members of the late President during the wreath-laying service.
Madam Quarshie labeled these individuals as “fake family members,” insisting that the true relatives of Prof. Mills do not recognize them.
“People with Koku Anyidoho, pretending to be the real relatives of Atta Mills—that is never true. We don’t know them anywhere. He has schooled them by telling them that the rest of us are paternal brothers and sisters, and they are the real family,” she stated.
Madam Quarshie also recounted a particularly disturbing incident involving an elderly woman falsely claiming to be Prof. Atta Mills’ mother.
“It was so disgusting to find an 80-year-old woman, pouring libation and hitting her thigh, saying that she gave birth to Atta Mills. I was wondering if she gave birth as a baby,” she said.
The family of the late president is now demanding respect and proper consultation in matters concerning their loved one’s legacy and resting place.